Levaquin Peripheral Sensorimotor Neuropathy Lawsuits Expected to Grow

San Francisco, CAIt’s bad enough when a prescription medication leaves you with a nasty, but temporary side effect. It’s another thing entirely when a devastating side effect proves permanent. That’s one claim amongst a host of allegations contained in a Levaquin Antibiotics lawsuit currently before the courts and arguing for consolidation by the US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

There is no question that the class of antibiotic to which Levaquin belongs, known as fluoroquinolones, remains an effective hedge against infection. It’s the Levaquin side effects and, specifically, Levaquin Peripheral Sensorimotor Neuropathy that have patients becoming plaintiffs and seeking compensation.

The Central Nervous System is one of the most intricate aspects of the human body. Fluoroquinolones are alleged to negatively impact nerves in some patients, serving to impair sensation, movement and other aspects of health. This may leave patients with persistent pain, burning, tingling, numbness, weakness, and sensitivity to light, touch, temperature and motion in the arms and legs, as well as other problems that cause a major disruption to daily activities.

These are the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, and they can last for months or even years following use of fluoroquinolones. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said as much in August of 2013 when the federal drug regulator required all manufacturers of fluoroquinolones to include stronger warnings for peripheral neuropathy - suggesting, as the agency did, that problems could last for some time after the medication was stopped. Years, in fact.

Imagine, if you were a patient taking an antibiotic prescribed by your doctor for an infection and suffering ill effects not from the infection (which might be an issue for mere days), but from the antibiotic? Many plaintiffs suffering from debilitating peripheral neuropathy years after stopping Levaquin, or other drugs in the fluoroquinolones class, claim they might have taken their chances with their infection and avoided Levaquin, Cipro or Avelox.

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Plaintiffs in various Levaquin side effects lawsuits allege that concern over the possibility of a link between peripheral neuropathy and antibiotic use had been raised as early as 2001. Had those concerns been articulated 14 years ago, many plaintiffs may have been spared pain and debilitating injuries, or so it is alleged.

The trio of fluoroquinolones is amongst the most widely prescribed antibiotics in the US. Little wonder the legal community expects that not only plaintiffs’ petitions to have lawsuits consolidated into an MDL will be successful, but also that Levaquin Peripheral Sensorimotor Neuropathy lawsuits will grow exponentially.

Currently, there are 49 complaints pending in 29 different federal jurisdictions. That may not seem like a large docket. However, that number has more than doubled over the past month. Speculation remains that such cases will grow and multiply into hundreds or even thousands of complaints.

A petition to the US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation will be heard at the end of this month, on July 30 in San Francisco.

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READER COMMENTS

Posted byLisa Mayo
on December 4, 2017

I have taken Cipro , Levaquin, several times and never put two and two together until now. Over the past five years my health has deteriorated. I had to have right knee surgery about 9 years ago when out of the blue my knee locked up. I'm convinced now it's from the RX I was given. I have always been very active with hunting, fishing, and just being outdoors. My life has changed forever! I'm only 48 years old and have chronic pain in my entire body. My arms go numb and burn like they are on fire. Some days I can barley lift my arms with out my shoulders feeling like they are breaking. My fingers stick at the joints, I have to literally pull them apart. I have been getting shots in my right elbow just about every three months to function. I have severe depression and anxiety because I feel like I can't do anything with out pain. My husband and I ague about my pain all the time. He just can't understand and I can't explain it. I have been scared of being told have MS, Lupis or something more but nothing indicated such illness. It's from these DRUGS!!!!

Posted byJohn Crowell
on January 19, 2017

I'm running into the same situation that many people are having. I have all the documentation and proof that I have developed peripheral neuropathy, cervical dystonia and Weiss Ring Floater after taking ciprofloxacin. However, since I took the generic brand there are no lawyers willing to take my case. It's all about money and the only money is to sue the brand name manufacturer. I truly hope that I can receive help. We were all encouraged to use generics and now we pay the price for it by being unable to get legal help. Thank you FDA.

Posted byLInda F.
on July 20, 2016

My daughter took Levofloxacin 4 years ago prescribed to her for a possible UTI. The culture came back much later and was negative much. This was well after she took this drug. The doctor told her nothing about side effects. She has been sick for 4 years. She has nerve damage, can barely walk, feet burn and hurt, rashes, eye problems, and her system can only tolerate few foods. She has gone to many different doctors, but symptoms continues. This is going to be her life from now it seems. A once loving, happy, energetic girl has become a sad, sick girl thanks to this drug. Please do not take fluoroquinolones unless absolutely necessary. Get the word out.

She was told she could not get in on a lawsuit due to her taking the generic. We are going to research this further. These drugs not only change the ill person but everyone around them. Something needs to be done for brand names and generics.

Posted byPatricia Hamilton Bell
on December 8, 2015

I am a 71 year old female who has taken Levaquin, Cipro and Ciprofloxin,, also Avelox beginning 6-23-99 through 6-26-02. None of these medications have been taken since then. I suffered my first tendon tear 9-21-01. It was an extensor hood tear to the middle finger of left hand. Since that time I experienced an identical tear to same finger on left hand. I have had 2 shoulder surgeries involving the rotator cuff. In March of this year, 2015, I had extensive surgery to correct a "Worn out" right thumb that included a bone graft from my elbow and the insertion of a metal plate. This area did not heal as it should have and in Sept. 2015 the surgery was repeated involving bone graft from my knee and a different metal plate was inserted. It is now December and I am still trying to recover from this last surgery. Still in a cast, still in pain etc. I completely lost Spring, Summer, Fall and now Winter due to these complications. I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy beginning in January 2001. I am suffering from the long term side effects from these drugs. I have the sensation of being shocked a thousand times a day, have shortness of breath, much nausea, both my arms and legs give me constant pain. When I try to sit or lie down my legs hurt me so bad that I cannot remain still. Lots of jumping and jerking of arms and legs. I am constantly fatigued, needing to rest often. My life has changed drastically since taking these medications and I fear it will never be the same. Before taking these drugs, I was very physically active with exercise, swimming, SCUBA and much sailing. Very fit. I too need some help. I live in fear of what is going to happen to me next. In fact, in April 2015, while still wearing a cast from my hand surgery on 3-5-15, I stretched my arm out in front of me and there was a loud pop that was audible all around, intense pain immediately. I had just ruptured another tendon inside of my cast at my right wrist. This cannot be repaired and I have loss of strength in my wrist and hand and still much pain that has not resolved. Is there anyone out there who is handling these cases? I feel that I deserve to have representation and help with filing a law suit.
I would advise anyone who is given a prescription for any of these drugs to run like Hell because your life is going to turn into a Hellish nightmare that doesn't end. Ever.......Thank you!

Posted bySteve Vanscoy
on October 13, 2015

I was prescribed Levaquin for an earache. that didnt work so they gave me a Medrol Dosepak (corticosteroid) then back to Levaquin. Well, I soon learned of all the horror stories from snapping and popping tendons to blurred eyesight and various numbness and tingling in limbs. When I looked into it, I found I should have never taken the crap , especially, with the damn Medrol Dose Crap!!! I hate J&J for this!!!!

Posted byLinda S.
on August 14, 2015

Over the past ten years, I have taken Avelox, Cipro and Levaquin several times for diverticulitis and pneumonia. I have probably taken the three on different occasions approximately nine times. Then, about a year and a half ago, I had hernia surgery and I believe I was given Levaquin as a prophylactic antibiotic. It was at this point, about a month after my surgery, that my legs started getting weak and hard to move. Over the past year and a half, the pain, weakness, sensitivity, edema, etc. have grown progressively worse. I do have some spinal issues, however, I believe that what I'm experiencing in my legs is neuropathy from the fluoroquinolones. The best way to describe the odd feelings in my legs is that the skin feels "fuzzy." It's not like restless legs at all. No one has ever diagnosed me with neuropathy, however, I truly believe that I have it and it was caused by the use of this antibiotic.

Posted byJK
on August 13, 2015

I was prescribed Levofloxacin (levaquin) for a severe case of diverticulitis. I was not made aware of any, repeat - ANY side effects of this drug. It was only after the use of the drug and my individual subsequent research that I found out my now chronic pain in ankles, joints, muscles, etc. may be a direct result of this drug. I have no doubt it is. I was on the maximum mg dosage for only 5 days. Over a month later there are days I can hardly walk. Other days I am stiff but can manage to do things around the house. But it doesn't seem to be going away. I will give it some time, but am worried about other issues that may arise from the use of the drug.
All I can say is if a doctor prescribes a drug, you want to know the side effects in detail.

Posted byJane
on July 15, 2015

All it takes is one pill to ruin your life as you know it. There is no going back. The damage is long term and even permanent. Either way your years are stolen from you. Why chance that.

Posted byAnya
on July 15, 2015

I took 5 pills of Levofloxacin 2.5 years ago. My life hasnt been the same ever since.My health went downhill and doctors are scratching their heads and have yet to offer a cure. They need to be educated on the risks and how to recognize and help those who got affected by the drug.

Posted byDeniese berry
on July 14, 2015

I took levaquin in 2001 & have been disabled ever since. Constant nerve pain, insomnia, neuropathy in my feet & ankles. I went to 24 doctors & could not get a diagnosis. I would have been nice to work another 15+ years for retirement.

Posted bymswarren@q.com
on July 13, 2015

I was given intravenous Levaquin for pneumonia, and followup with pills at home. I was not given any warnings by the doctors about this drug. Now, a year later, I am still having muscle pain and aching in my joints. Sometimes my legs are so bad I can barely walk. Also I have been diagnosed with Graves disease, hyperthyroid. Except for the pneumonia, I was a health person with none of these health issues before the Levaquin. I seem to be getting worse as time goes on instead of better. I also have changed my diet trying to regain my health. It is very "sick" that the medical profession will do whatever it takes to make money. That's all they care about.

Posted bySTACEE
on July 13, 2015

I WAS PERMANENTLY DISABLED FROM CIPRO. I WAS HOSPITALIZED TWICE, ONCE FOR 7 DAYS AND ONCE FOR 6 DAYS ALL BECAUSE OF CIPRO AND PAIN AND SWELLING DUE TO CIPRO. I ONLY RECEIVED ONE DOSE OF IT WHILE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM THROUGH AN IV AND THAT WAS ALL IT TOOK FOR ME TO BECOME COMPLETELY 100% DISABLED WITH A RARE FORM OF REACTIVE ARTHRITIS CALLED REITER'S SYNDROME. THAT ALL STARTED BACK IN 2007 AND JUST THIS YEAR 2015 MY DOCTOR DIAGNOSED ME WITH PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY NONE OF YOUR ATTORNEY'S WANT TO TAKE MY CASE?? I HAVE MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION, HOSPITAL ADMISSION AND DISCHARGE FORMS, AND YEARS OF DOCTORS OFFICE NOTES ALL INDICATING WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT MY DISABILITIES ARE ALL FROM CIPRO YET BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ONE OF YOUR SUPER SECRET SPECIAL WORDS ATTACHED TO MY DIAGNOSES OR RECORDS OR WHATEVER YOU WON'T HELP ME? IS THIS CORRECT? CAN I EVEN HAVE THE DECENCY OF GETTING A RESPONSE AS TO WHY YOU WON'T HELP ME? WHAT IT IS THAT IS PREVENTING ME FROM GETTING HELP FROM AN ATTORNEY LIKE THIS FIRM? THANK YOU

Posted byKevin Krooss
on July 13, 2015

I took 5 pills of a 10 pill regement over 2 years ago. I experienced chronic insomnia due to my breathing stopped while I slept. This resulted in panic attacks and anxiety 24x7. This lasted two weeks and panic attacks reoccured annually. I have been diagnosed with PTSD and still experience difficulty falling asleep. I generally need to sleep 10-12 hours a day to get enough rest. This is 2 1/2 years later.

This was all to treat a minor sinus infection.

Posted byEdna Birch
on July 13, 2015

I am a 70 yr. old grandmother of five, and retired RN Certified Risk Manager from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In 2011 I became very ill, disorientated after having all teeth removed due to osteoporosis. I was not given an antibiotic at that point in time, but within 3 days I developed a fever, difficulty breathing etc. My husband called the EMT's and I was taken to a local hospital here in southern NJ. I was started on Levoquin in the ER by the physician there, and my family physician continued the medication. I did not get better in fact was getting worse within 72 hrs. I was having pain and tingling in my legs, fluid in my lungs that I felt I was drowning. I became so anemic I had to have two units of blood. The doctor wanted to tap my right lung to take out the fluid on the seventh day, and I said no, I want a second opinion. I was discharged home, and within 24 hrs of stopping the antibiotic, my breathing improved, but the pain in my legs was terrible. I was walking my hearing service dog, when I fell outside. I had to crawl to a tree to pull myself up. This falling continued, so I had my husband take me to another hospital here, and they did an x-ray saying the fluid had gone away after being off the antibiotic for 72 hrs, therefore the tap of the lung was unnecessary and could have collapsed my lung. I also worry about the blood transfusions and the possibility of any diseases or recalls of that blood. I also had intractable diarrhea develop, that caused more dehydration, and a lack of appetite. I lost 30 pounds during this timeframe.

I was admitted to the second hospital over night and then discharged home. It took one year before I could walk very well and was falling frequently. I was suppose to use a walker but used a cane as it made walking my dog easier.

Since 2011, the neuritis has continued, as tingling in my feet and toes, esp. in cold weather and every night. There is no medication that relieves the pain. It has been four years and the symptoms persist.

Being a RNCRM I am very concerned about the possibility of pleural fluid ( fluid in the lungs) as another side effect, as well as the anemia requiring blood. Any time you have to have blood transfusions you must worry about the possibility of some tainted blood that did get through. Once a lung is collapsed as mine was, it can collapse again.

I have contacted a lawyer and am so relieved to know I am not alone. In 2011 there was no warning, and no RN or MD picked up the symptoms I was displaying within 72 hrs of taking that drug. I do have this drug listed as one I am now allergic to, however I do not want any of the drugs connected to this drug.

God bless all of you that have taken it, no one knows how much we suffer.

Posted byTherese Addington
on July 12, 2015

I was prescribed generic Levaquin in February 2012. I took one pill and had an allergic reaction from which I have never recovered. I have spoken with several law firms over the past three years and am always told that taking the generic form precludes me from any legal recourse. Very depressing and disturbing that one pill has ruined my quality of life, and the lives of so many others.

Posted byDana Gass
on July 12, 2015

I took Levaquen in September 2014. I was in bed with neuropathy, heart palpitations, chest pain, and severe weakness for almost two months afterwards. I have a permanent "benign" tremor in my right hand now, and suffer inexplicable neuropathy, leg cramps, and other disturbing sensations which didn't exist before taking this drug. I hope someone will eventually have some care and compassion for those of us who are suffering the consequences of trusting our doctors. Our doctors do not seem to believe or care about our suffering.

Posted byVirginia
on July 12, 2015

I was VERY damaged by Levaquin.....6years, 9mos ago....

Posted byRickey
on July 12, 2015

I've had reactions to Cipro and Levaquin several times, including needing Physical T. for my tendons, rashes, numbness, and nerve problems in my feet, legs, back, and hands. They continue to say that the good they do outweigh the effects. They gave me another round last week for a UI, and within two hours I had a rash with cysts down there, and tightness in my chest so I contacted the Doctor and stopped the cipro, and took Antihistamines. This stuff my save lives, but when you have problems like many of us in both the I.V. forms, and pills, and the doctors know this, they should use a different medication, and it should be re-enforced in the Doctor's guides that this stuff can be very dangerous, and in many cases like mine, very painful.

Posted byShari
on July 7, 2015

I have been taking Levaquin for years and have pain in shoulders and arms. Now the right arm, I have had three surgeries for rotator cuff repair. I have had 7 tears on that side. Now my left arm has begun to hurt almost so bad that I have to cry at times. This is most likely caused by the levequin? I have COPD so The doctors give me either Zithromax or Levaquin when I get a respiratory infection. I actually just got out of the hospital for pneumonia where I was on the IV form of Levaquin. If these tears are caused from this medication I would really like to know. I am going to say something to my doctor to see if he knows. He is pretty smart and I love my doctor but how can he miss this big side effect?

Posted byGene Cass
on July 6, 2015

These drugs are extremely dangerous.

Posted byKim Lemmon
on July 6, 2015

I took generic levaquin in Nov 2012 and since then, I have lived in a world of pain. Started with bursitis in the shoulder, then BURNING peripheral neuropathy in my feet and hands, and has progressed to very painful tendinitis in most areas of my body at random. It has wrecked my stomach as I now have to eat foods labeled "no antibiotics" and keep a food diary to figure out what causes swelling and tendon pain after I eat. There is no treatment and very little research. I would LOVE to get back to my former full life, but I fear that may never happen.

Posted byMark Girard
on July 5, 2015

If you are pretty sure that you or a loved one has been harmed by Levaquin, Cipro, Avelox, Floxin, Factive, Tequin or one of the ear-drops or eye-drops you may want to join FTG, the biggest and busiest of many groups working together to support the "floxed" community. Copy Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Group into your googler thingy or facebook search and we will do all we can to help you. Best wishes everyone!

Posted byJudi Berry
on July 4, 2015

I am furious that I was also crippled by a fluoroquinolone, Cipro, that my family doctor prescribed for a minor UTI infection.
Yes, the doctor was negligent and did not keep up with the noted side effects of these drugs. The risk is higher for children and people over 60. The courts have basically given the drug manufacturers immunity, especially for generic drugs. I never dreamed that an antibiotic could be so dangerous, and that doctors are giving them out like candy. Even if I had a hint of even tendonitis, I would have never taken this drug, but nothing was said to me.

What kind of an antibiotic does nerve damage! Why don't doctors get the side effect information, do they read anything at all? This drug has changed my life. Peripheral neuropathy is devastating. This information needs to get out to the public, since doctors are not doing their jobs and drug companies are getting immunity, so they continue peddling these life changing drugs. Profit is now the most important goal, even if their drugs injure people, no worries for them.

Posted byMark Girard
on July 4, 2015

Thank you for raising awareness about these incredibly dangerous drugs! I am one of the small percentage of people who actually had their lives saved by these drugs, but as is usually the case, my doctor prescribed too much for too long in conjunction with drugs that make the adverse reaction more likely and more severe. One study showed FQs are used properly 1 in 88 times. The other 87 times the patients either did not need an antibiotic at all they could have used a safer one or they were given too much for too long or they mixed it with drugs they shouldn't have. In fact, most doctors broke 2 or more of these guidelines. Dr. Bennett, seen in many broadcasts all over America recently, says that 90% of the people taking these drugs didn't even need an antibiotic. Considering that Johnson & Johnson, maker of Levaquin, admits that 1% or so of patients will have severe reactions; since these are the most common antibiotics used it adds up to millions upon millions of people, and the real numbers are much much higher than 1%; the FDA has a document that estimates that 60% of people have some sort of neurological issues, ranging from mild to horrific. The severe reactions we are talking about do not just go away when the drugs are discontinued; they are often lifelong debilitating problems or even death. There are far more people who have been harmed by these drugs for no good reason than there are who have been saved by them. In fact, most of them have already been banned, but even so, most of us are not suggesting we ban the ones used now, we just want them restricted to life-or-death situations as they were intended and originally approved to be instead of being handed out like candy. If we can't get the medical community to behave responsibly with these drugs then we will have to take them away from them to protect people from their incompetence. You see, the medical community is doing a really really lousy job. Somehow, in the course of the last couple of decades, they have become a leading cause of death, arguably the leading cause of death. It's time for sweeping changes in the medical system including prison time for a bunch of doctors, pharmaceutical executives and FDA administrators. The FLUOROQUINOLONE SCANDAL will be the straw that broke the camel's back. It's time for change in a big big way!

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